In the Days of Poor Richard eBook

This letter he put into his pocket with the purpose
of asking Preston to deliver it if circumstances should
drive him out of England or into prison.

Captain Preston went with Solomon Binkus next day
to the address on the card of Lieutenant Clarke.
It was the house of the General, who was waiting
with his son in the reception room. They walked
together to the Almack Club. The General was
self-contained. It would seem that his bad opinion
of Yankees was not quite so comprehensive as it had
been. The whole proceeding went forward with
the utmost politeness.

“General, Mr. Binkus and John Irons, Jr., are
my friends,” said Captain Preston.

“Indeed!” the General answered.

“Yes, and they are friends of England.
They saved my neck in America. I have assured
young Irons that your words, if they were correctly
reported to me, were spoken in haste, and that they
do not express your real opinion.”

“And what, sir, were the words reported to you?”
the General asked.

Preston repeated them.

“That is my opinion.”

“It is mine also,” young Clarke declared.

Solomon’s face changed quickly. He took
deliberate aim at the enemy and drawled:

“Can’t be yer opinion is wuth more than
the lives o’ these young fellers that’s
goin’ to fight.”

“Gentlemen, you will save time by dropping all
thought of apologies,” said the General.

“Then it only remains for you to choose your
weapons and agree with us as to time and place,”
said Preston.

“I choose pistols,” said the young Britisher.
“The time and place may suit your convenience,
so it be soon and not too far away,”

“Let us say the cow wallow on Shooter’s
Hill, near the oaks, at sunrise to-morrow,”
Preston proposed.

“I agree,” the Lieutenant answered.

“Whatever comes of it, let us have secrecy and
all possible protection from each side to the other
when the affair is ended,” said Preston.

“I agree to that also,” was the answer
of young Clarke.

When they were leaving, Solomon said to Preston:

“That ’ere Gin’ral is as big as
Goliar.”

CHAPTER IX

THE ENCOUNTER

Solomon, Jack and their friend left London that afternoon
in the saddle and took lodgings at The Rose and Garter,
less than a mile from the scene appointed for the
encounter. That morning the Americans had sent
a friend of Preston by post chaise to Deal, with Solomon’s
luggage. Preston had also engaged the celebrated
surgeon, Doctor Brooks, to spend the night with them
so that he would be sure to be on hand in the morning.
The doctor had officiated at no less than a dozen
duels and enjoyed these affairs so keenly that he
was glad to give his help without a fee. The
party had gone out in the saddle because Preston had
said that the horses might be useful.